BUILDERS renovating a city centre mill have stumbled across a 200-year-old piece of footwear.

BUILDERS have unearthed a ladies' slipper while restoring the world's first steam powered textile mill.

The delicate slipper was discovered in the roof space of Murrays' Mill in Ancoats as workers were strengthening and repairing the 200 year-old structure.

Damp conditions in the mill have left the shoe in a poor state and it is now with local archaeologists for safekeeping.

The construction company, Wates, learned that it was tradition to hide a contemporary shoe inside a building as part of the topping out ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the structure.

And the find has encouraged the firm to delve further into the mill's history, by inviting the community to share stories of the mill on a special website dedicated to the restoration.

John Shannon, regional director, said: "Since we began work on site at Murrays' we have uncovered a number of artefacts that date back to the facility's heyday.

"Our discoveries remind us of the people who used to work and live in this area all those years ago.

"Through our restoration work we are aiming to prepare the structure for future development, where it will once again be the hub of a new community.

"We would love to hear from anyone who has memories or stories of the mill."

In the 18th century, Ancoats was the world's first industrial suburb and steam was the driving force behind the nation's success.

Murrays' Mill opened in 1798 and was originally known as Union Mill. It doubled in size at the turn of the 19th century following the addition of Decker Mill.

Between 1804 and 1806, three other principal buildings were added to the site, with New Mill becoming the largest in Manchester when it was built.

Old, Decker and New mills were dedicated to spinning and the other two buildings were used as warehouses and offices.

The mills were in operation for more than 150 years but cotton production ceased on the site during the mid-1950s, although the mills were used by textile firms on a smaller scale until the 1990s.

The mills were in a serious state of disrepair until the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant to convert them into buildings for modern uses.

To share stories and photographs with other local history enthusiasts, email tim.rodwell@wates.co.uk